Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue management, union reach contract

CENTRAL KITSAP - Labor and management of Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue have reached a compromise on a two-year contract extension for firefighters in a deal approved by the fire district's board of commissioners Monday.

The agreement freezes firefighters' wages for 2012. In 2013, a wage increase will reflect the region's consumer price index. Should the index rise, firefighters will receive an equivalent percentage bump in pay but not to exceed 2 percent.

"We're very pleased we were able to come to an agreement that works out best for the fire district," said CKFR Board of Commissioners chairman Bob Muhleman of the extension, signed Monday by the board.

The deal comes after some contention between labor and management this past year, over what union leaders said had been a communication breakdown at the time involving a number of personnel, legal and financial issues. Added pressure has come from declining property tax revenues. The district, which operates on $16 million a year, stands to lose about $1.2 million in property tax revenue over the next two years, according to projections by Kitsap County Assessor Jim Avery.

"We were able to achieve this together and can now move forward to other challenges facing our district," CKFR Chief Roy Lusk said in a news release.

"Through a team effort we were able to reach an agreement that allows us to continue providing the high quality of service the community deserves in a cost effective way," echoed Steve Davison, vice president of firefighters' Local 2819 and head of CK's union, in the same release.

Management is still attempting to reach an agreement with CKFR's nonuniformed staff.